# Christmas break with kids in Salt Lake City, 2026

> What to do with kids in Salt Lake City over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-21
- 4 places’ holiday hours; 12 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/salt-lake-city/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/salt-lake-city/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/salt-lake-city/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Natural History Museum of Utah**: Christmas Eve Closes at 3 p.m.; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “NHMU is closed every Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and closes early at 3 p.m. the day prior to each of these holidays. The Museum is also closed the days of its annual fundraising gala and annual all-staff retreat. Prebook Tickets .” Source: https://nhmu.utah.edu/visit/hours (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Red Butte Garden**: Christmas Eve closed; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day closed. Their page says: “Closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 24 through January 1.” Source: https://redbuttegarden.org/plan-your-garden-visit/general-info/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Tracy Aviary**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Tracy Aviary is open everyday except Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Source: https://tracyaviary.org/hours-admission/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Thanksgiving Point**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day closed; New Year’s Day not posted. Their page says: “Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving & Christmas Days” Source: https://thanksgivingpoint.org/attractions-tickets/museum-of-natural-curiosity/ (checked 2026-10-21)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa Photos at City Creek Center** at City Creek Center, 48 West 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 2 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 7). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1258 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Santa Photos at Fashion Place** at Fashion Place, 6191 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/0473 (checked 2026-10-19)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Luminaria** at Thanksgiving Point Ashton Gardens, 3900 N. Garden Drive, Lehi, UT 84048. When: Nov 12, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027; Mon–Sat; closed Sundays, Dec 24, Dec 25. Time: Timed entry every 15 minutes. Price: Varies by date (see tickets); exchangeable tickets offered. Private firepits $120; food punch cards. About 30 minutes south of SLC. Official page: https://thanksgivingpoint.org/events/luminaria/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Christmas in the Village** at Gardner Village, West Jordan, UT. When: Nov 21 – Dec 31, 2026. Time: Village hours. Price: Free to stroll. Twinkling lights, elf displays and scavenger hunt; daytime-friendly. Official page: https://www.gardnervillage.com/christmas-in-the-village (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Christmas in Color** at Utah State University Bastian Agricultural Center, 2100 W 11400 S, South Jordan, UT. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Official page: https://christmasincolor.net/sojo (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Ogden Christmas Village** at Ogden Municipal Gardens, 2549 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401. When: Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Lights 5–10 p.m. Sun–Thu, 5 p.m.–midnight Fri–Sat. Price: Free. Free Santa visits (Mon–Fri 6–9 p.m., Sat 5–9 p.m. through Dec 23) and train rides. Opening night Nov 28 has a light parade, then fireworks and the lights switching on around 6:30 p.m. Official page: https://www.ogdencity.gov/452/Christmas-Village (checked 2026-10-29)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year's Eve at Daybreak Library** at Salt Lake County Library – Daybreak, South Jordan. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free; drop in. Crafts, games, food and a balloon drop right after the noon countdown. Kids can share their wishes for the new year. Official page: https://slcls.libnet.info/event/17709263 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Kearns Library** at Salt Lake County Library – Kearns, Kearns. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–1pm. Price: Free; drop in. Snacks and crafts in the late morning, then a countdown to noon. Official page: https://slcls.libnet.info/event/15198023 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Noon Year Celebration at Tyler Library** at Salt Lake County Library – Tyler, Midvale. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free; drop in. A short drop-in countdown with crafts at the branch. The library stays closed on New Year's Day and reopens Jan 2. Official page: https://slcls.libnet.info/event/17244334 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Luminaria** at Thanksgiving Point Ashton Gardens, 3900 N. Garden Drive, Lehi, UT 84048. When: Nov 12, 2026 – Jan 9, 2027; Mon–Sat; closed Sundays, Dec 24, Dec 25. Time: Timed entry every 15 minutes. Price: Varies by date (see tickets); exchangeable tickets offered. Private firepits $120; food punch cards. About 30 minutes south of SLC. Official page: https://thanksgivingpoint.org/events/luminaria/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Christmas in Color** at Utah State University Bastian Agricultural Center, 2100 W 11400 S, South Jordan, UT. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Official page: https://christmasincolor.net/sojo (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Ogden Christmas Village** at Ogden Municipal Gardens, 2549 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401. When: Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027. Time: Lights 5–10 p.m. Sun–Thu, 5 p.m.–midnight Fri–Sat. Price: Free. Free Santa visits (Mon–Fri 6–9 p.m., Sat 5–9 p.m. through Dec 23) and train rides. Opening night Nov 28 has a light parade, then fireworks and the lights switching on around 6:30 p.m. Official page: https://www.ogdencity.gov/452/Christmas-Village (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Salt Lake City with kids?
Of the four places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden, Tracy Aviary and Thanksgiving Point are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Salt Lake City?
Open with posted hours: Natural History Museum of Utah (Closes at 3 p.m.). On the calendar: Santa Photos at City Creek Center and Santa Photos at Fashion Place.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Salt Lake City?
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Salt Lake City?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Luminaria, Christmas in Color and Ogden Christmas Village. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Salt Lake City?
Luminaria, Christmas in the Village, Christmas in Color and Ogden Christmas Village. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).